Is there a need for this...

[mikbro]

My company has developed software that works with SageTV on our machines that allow Sage to control up to 8 receivers (connected to 8 different tuners) using one IR Blaster and one comm port (on the SageTV machine).

The original purpose of the software was to allow our PVR's to control multiple big dish satellite systems, but in reality it has much broader appeal, especially to those Sage users that are running multiple tuners, given that the existing Actisys and USBIRT solutions work on a one to one basis (ie. if you have 2 satellite receivers/cable boxes you need two separate comm/usb ports and 2 separate ir devices). Add more tuners/receivers and you need to add the same number of comm/usb ports/devices.

Our solution features learning capability as well as a host of pre-programmed codes. The way in which the codes is sent is script based per tuner so that if you have devices that require different timing/delays you can do this. The list of pre-programmed codes include Dishnetwork, DirecTV, Motorola, GI, Scientific Atlanta just to name a few.

Of course with the scripting capability you are not limited to just changing channels on your reciever, you can also execute any other IR sequence using any other remote control button you have learned or is already pre-programmed.

This software would also work with SageRecorder in the same fashion.

So... I guess what I am asking is given this feature set, how many people would be interested in this product (combination of the software that interfaces with Sage and the IR blaster)?

Thanks!

[mediahome]

I just got my USB-UIRT setup to control my Dish SAT receiver and I did so with a dual emitter plugged into the USB-UIRT. That second emitter begs to be stuck onto the front of another SAT receiver but with SAGE as is that wouldn't work.

Yes, I think that there would be demand for the solution that you suggest. Please, tell us more.

Matt

[mikbro]

The way it works is this:

When you add a source in Sage, you specify how it is to be controlled (via IR or Directv). With our system you select "DirecTV" and then one of the 4 Com ports Sage provides you (1-4).

When you request a channel change on a given source, Sage sends the channel change request to the which goes through the comm port you specified.

Now you don't actually have physical comm ports 1-4 (or if your do they have been repositioned to Comm port 5 or above via Windows). Comm ports 1-4 are virtual ports created by our software. Our software reads the channel change Sage is requesting then sends the appropriate IR signals you defined for the source using the appropriate script you defined.

The hardware we use has a very powerfull IR blaster builtin, but can also use up to 3 addtional IR blaster leads (it comes with them) so you can route the IR leads wherever you need to.

Now the hardware costs $99 (available from Smarthome) http://www.smarthome.com/1623PC.html though they are currently having a 15% off sale.

The software we sell for $49. So the cost works out to be about what 3 IR blasters would cost you, but you save on complexity, wiring, etc and of course gain the flexibility of being able to script your channel changes for picky systems and have all the preprogrammed codes.

Here is a script I currently use to change channels on a dishnetwork receiver:

<start>

--Dishnetwork/Bell ExpressVu channel change script
--press exit to ensure we are not in a menu

SendIR Dish3xxx exit 1000

--send each of the four digits for a channel change
SendIR Dish3xxx TunerChannelNumber 1 1000
SendIR Dish3xxx TunerChannelNumber 2 1000
SendIR Dish3xxx TunerChannelNumber 3 1000
SendIR Dish3xxx TunerChannelNumber 4 1000

<end>

The script above uses the "SendIR" command. This command has 4 parameters:

1 The name of the remote control defined in the system, in this case "Dish3xxx".
2. The Variable, in this case "exit" which is a key on the remote, or "TunerChannelNumber" which represents the channel number Sage is requesting to be tuned.
3. The digit of the channel to be tuned ("TunerChannelNumber 1") means send the first digit of the channel to be tuned.
4. (optional) The number of milliseconds to wait after the IR command is sent.

The software also handles all remote control maintenance (learning buttons, adding remote controls) completely outside of sage - see the attached screenshot.

[Mike Young]

Pretty cool ! I'll need that for sure if I want to add a second receiver.